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Radio Quality Assurance Scheme - Specific Guidance Note (RQAS SGN/C.02) Issue 2: May 1999 |
This SGN should be read in conjunction with the general guidance given in Part B of The Quality System Guide.
This SGN relates to dealers and distributors of civil land mobile radio equipment. Firms successfully meeting the criteria of this guidance note will be registered as members of the RQAS under the registration :
"RQAS SGN/C.02 - Dealer and Distribution of Civil Land Mobile Radio Equipment" (as identified in the certificate of registration).
For the purpose of this Specific Guidance Note the following definitions apply:
"Customer"
The organisation which is receiving a product or service from the supplier."Dealer/Distributor/Sales Organisation"
The organisation responsible for the sale of the equipment or service (including retail outlets)."Installation"
The installation of fully compliant clmr equipment in vehicles or at fixed stations."Sales contract"
The order or contract raised between the sales organisation and customer which details the requirements of the sale."Unit exchange"
Serviceable unit of similar condition/type to customers' to facilitate rectification of fault(s)."1st Line (module) repair"
Repairs completed using replacement modules / PCBs for later repair to component level."2nd Line (component) repair"
Repairs completed immediately to component level e.g. complete units - HPUs etc., or modules / PCBs removed following 1st line repair.
General:
The dealer should ensure that purchased products conform to specified requirements (in terms of description of product, type, quantity, special packaging requirements etc.).
Assessment of sub-contractors:
Sources of supply:-
- from companies listed in the current issue of the DTI QA Register of Assessed Companies and who supply within their declared scope;
- a company that has been assessed to equivalent systems by certification bodies outside the UK, such bodies should hold appropriate National Accreditation;
- where the sub-contractor does not hold a valid registration of a quality management system, then the supplier can evaluate and select sub-contractors on the basis of their ability to meet sub-contract requirements including the quality system and any specific quality assurance requirements.
The dealer should maintain a list of relevant assured sources and have a system for ensuring that the products have been purchased from sources within the above requirements.
The list of assured sources should include: name and address of sub-contractor, any approvals held and the name of the assessing certification body and registration number.
Other acceptable sources.
A source nominated by a particular customer which should be authorized by the purchasing authority within the customer's operation for the supply to that individual customer.
The dealer should maintain a documented procedure to ensure that product is adequately traceable to the source of supply at all times.
Particular caution should be exercised if packaged sets are broken down into individual component items (e.g. to replace damaged items from other sets) to ensure that part sets are either taken out of stock or made up to complete packages before sale.
Procedures should provide for notifying customers of any deficiencies, modifications or product recall if found to be necessary by the supplier or manufacturer.
Reference Documents:
It is the responsibility of the quality system manager to ensure that the most up to date versions of specifications, codes of practice and other documents relevant to the service are followed and referenced in the firm's quality system. In particular, you will need to be aware of relevant MPT specifications and Codes of Practice and ETSI Standards for the land mobile radio service, full details of which are published by the Radiocommunications Agency in three information sheets. Copies are available from the Radiocommunications Agency Library at the address given on the front page of this document:
- RA 108 List of Specifications for Land Mobile Radio Services (MPT 1300 series)
- RA 275 Status of Land Mobile Radio Specifications (MPT 1300 series)
- RA 279 List of ETSI Standards for Land Mobile Radio Services (ETSI 300 series)
Management of the sale activity:
There should be formal procedures for monitoring the progress of the sales activity.
The procedure should detail the stages that require monitoring to ensure that the sales contract is complied with. It should cover the complete process from point of sale to actual final handover and instruction on correct installation, commissioning and use to the customer (if applicable).
Sales staff should be competently trained in the product and technical knowledge required to enable them to explain operational procedures to the customer and any limitations of the equipment or services being offered.
The dealer should maintain appropriate trade literature and standards relating to material stocked. The method of maintaining such information up to date should be defined.
Handling of customer warranty claims:
The warranty procedure should be clearly prescribed and communicated to the customer.
There should be formal procedures detailing the method for handling customer warranty claims to ensure both the sales organisation and customer interests are upheld.
Provision of maintenance services:
Maintenance and repair facilities should be offered to at least whole unit exchange level. For 1st and/or 2nd line repair the sales organisation should be able to demonstrate access to manufacturer approved maintenance facilities, commensurate with the range of equipment offered, either in-house or through sub-contractors.
Radiocommunications Quality Council
Enquiries about the RQAS should be addressed to:
The Secretary
Radiocommunications Quality Council
c/o Radiocommunications Agency
Wyndham House
189 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9SXTel: 020-7211 0193
Fax: 020-7211 0118
Copies of all RA publications can be obtained from:
The Library
Radiocommunications Agency
Wyndham House
189 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9SXTel: 020-7211 0502/0505 (24 hour answerphone)
Fax: 020 7-211 0507website: www.radio.gov.uk
This guide may be freely reproduced as a complete document except for sale or advertising purposes.
Published on behalf of the Radiocommunications Quality Council by the Radiocommunications Agency, an Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry
| RA 315 May 1999 |
